Data setting apparatus and data setting method

ABSTRACT

A data setting apparatus has an accepting section, a deciding section, and a data setting section. The accepting section accepts an input of data to be set into a field equipment and an input of a key correlated with the field equipment. The deciding section decides whether or not the key accepted by the accepting section is correct. The data setting section sets the data accepted by the accepting section into the field equipment if the deciding section decides that the key accepted by the accepting section is correct.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2004-341609, filed on Nov.26, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data setting apparatus and a datasetting method for setting data into field equipments arranged in aplant and, more particularly, a data setting apparatus and a datasetting method capable of employing other input information when thedata is set.

2. Description of the Related Art

The plant control system capable of monitoring the field equipmentsarranged in respective portions of the plant by the common terminal unithas been known. The data can be set into the field equipments connectedto such system, by operating the terminal unit of the plant controlsystem. However, the access to the data must be limited from theperspective of security because control. of the field equipments iscarried out based on the set data. Therefore, in the existingcircumstances, the security is weighted by the constraint level everydata as the set object, and then the authority given to the operator iscompared with the constraint level to decide whether or not the accessto the data is allowed.

In JP-A-2004-46585, it is set forth that, in the distributed controlapparatus for controlling the field equipments, the operable range islimited based on the user's authority that has been registered on asecurity table.

JP-A-2004-46585 is referred to as a related art.

However, such access control method is based upon the decision of thewriting authority given to each operator, but the security peculiar tothe field equipments is not considered at all. In the related art, themechanical locking mechanism is provided to the field equipment and thenthe operator can set the data by unlocking the mechanism by using thekey, nevertheless the similar mechanism is not provided to the existingplant control system. Also, in the plant control system in the relatedart, such a problem exists that the information processing capability ofthe field equipment whose functions are enhanced cannot be utilizedeffectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a data settingapparatus and a data setting method capable of utilizing informationexcept data to be set into a field. equipment when the data is set intothe field equipment.

The invention provides a data setting apparatus for setting data intofield equipments, having: an accepting section which accepts an input ofdata to be set into a field equipment and an input of a key correlatedwith the field equipment; a deciding section which decides whether ornot the key accepted by the accepting section is correct; and a datasetting section which sets the data accepted by the accepting sectioninto the field equipment if the deciding section decides that the keyaccepted by the accepting section is correct.

According to the data setting apparatus, the input of the key correlatedwith the field equipment is accepted, and also the data is set into thefield equipment if it is decided that the input key is correct.Therefore, the access to data in each field equipment can be limitedappropriately on a field-equipment basis. As the key, for example, thedifferent password can be set every field equipment.

In the data setting apparatus, the accepting section includes adisplaying section which displays an input screen of the data and thekey, and the displaying section displays to inform the data accepted bythe accepting section on the input screen when the key is input throughthe accepting section.

In this case, when the input of the key is accepted, the input data isinformed to be displayed on the input screen. Therefore, a person whoinputs the key can easily recognize which data is correlated with thekey, as a result, the operability can be improved. The displaying methodof informing the input data can be selected appropriately. For example,the displayed portion of the input data can be displayed to blink ordisplayed in particular display color.

The invention also provides a data setting apparatus for setting datainto field equipments, having: an accepting section which accepts aninput of data to be set into a field equipment and an input ofinformation correlated with the input of the data; a data settingsection which sets the data accepted by the accepting section into thefield equipment; and an information processing section which correlatesthe information accepted by the accepting section with the input of thedata.

According to the data setting apparatus, the input of the informationcorrelated with the input of the data is accepted, and also the inputinformation is correlated with the input of data. Therefore, theinformation correlated with the input of the data can be utilizedeffectively. The information correlated with the input of the data, forexample, may be information used to specify the person who inputs thedata. Also, the input of the key correlated with the field equipment maybe accepted.

In the data setting apparatus, the accepting section includes adisplaying section which displays an input screen of the data and theinformation, and the displaying section displays to inform the dataaccepted by the accepting section on the input screen when theinformation is input through the accepting section.

In this case, when the input of the key is accepted, the input data isinformed to be displayed on the input screen. Therefore, a person whoinputs the information can easily recognize which data is correlatedwith the input of the information, as a result, the operability can beimproved. The displaying method of informing the input data can beselected appropriately. For example, the displayed portion of the inputdata can be displayed to blink or displayed in particular display color.

In the data setting apparatus, the information is information correlatedwith an input person of the data. The information, for example, may be apassword allocated to a person who inputs the data.

In the data setting apparatus, the information is information correlatedwith a setting of the data. The information, for example, may be areason for change of data.

In the data setting apparatus, the information processing section storesthe input information to correlate with the input of the data.

In this case, for example, the input person of the data and the reasonfor change of data can be recorded as an operation history.

The invention also provides a data setting method of setting data intofield equipments, including steps of: accepting an input of data to beset into a field equipment and an input of a key correlated with thefield equipment; deciding whether or not the input key is correct; andsetting the input data into the field equipment if it is decided thatthe input key is correct.

According to the data setting method, the input of the key correlatedwith the field equipment is accepted, and also the data is set into thefield equipment if it is decided that the input key is correct.Therefore, the access to data in each field equipment can be limitedappropriately on a field-equipment basis. As the key, for example, thedifferent password can be set every field equipment.

The data setting method further includes the steps of: displaying aninput screen of the data and the key when the inputs of the data and thekey are accepted, and displaying to inform the input data on the inputscreen when the input of the key is accepted.

In this case, when the input of the key is accepted, the input data isinformed to be displayed on the input screen. Therefore, a person whoinputs the key can easily recognize which data is correlated with thekey, as a result, the operability can be improved. The displaying methodof informing the, input data can be selected appropriately. For example,the displayed portion of the input data can be displayed to blink ordisplayed in particular display color.

The invention also provides a data setting method of setting data intofield equipments, comprising the steps of: accepting an input of data tobe set into a field equipment and an input of information correlatedwith the input of the data; setting the input data into the fieldequipment; and correlating the input information with the input of thedata.

According to the data setting method, the input of the informationcorrelated with the input of the data is accepted, and also the inputinformation is correlated with the input of data. Therefore, theinformation correlated with the input of the data can be utilizedeffectively. The information correlated with the input of the data, forexample, may be information used to specify the person who inputs thedata. Also, the input of the key correlated with the field equipment maybe accepted.

The data setting method further includes the steps of: displaying aninput screen of the data and the information when the inputs of the dataand the information are accepted, and displaying to inform the inputdata on the input screen when the input of the information is accepted.

In this case, when the input of the key is accepted, the input data isinformed to be displayed on the input screen. Therefore, a person whoinputs the information can easily recognize which data is correlatedwith the input of the information, as a result, the operability can beimproved. The displaying method of informing the input data can beselected appropriately. For example, the displayed portion of the inputdata can be displayed to blink or displayed in particular display color.

In the data setting method, the information is information correlatedwith an input person of the data. The information, for example, may be apassword allocated to a person who inputs the data.

In the data setting method, the information is information correlatedwith a setting of the data. The information, for example, may be areason for change of data.

The data setting method further includes the steps of: storing the inputinformation to correlate with the input of the data.

In this case, for example, the input person of the data and the reasonfor change of data can be recorded as an operation history.

According to the data setting apparatus and the data setting method, theinput of the key correlated with the field equipment is accepted, andalso the data is set into the field equipment if it is decided that theinput key is correct. Therefore, the access to data in each fieldequipment can be appropriately limited on a field-equipment basis. Also,the input of the information correlated with the input of the data isaccepted, and also the input information is correlated with the input ofdata. Therefore, the information correlated with the input of the datacan be utilized effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plant controlsystem to which a data setting apparatus of the present embodiment isapplied;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the data settingapparatus of the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing procedures of a process executed inaccessing the data that the field equipment holds;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display screen of an instrument view; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a table used to decide whether or notdata writing can be allowed, wherein FIG. 5A is a view showing a tablefor comparing an operator's authority and a function constraint level,and FIG. 5B is a view showing a table for specifying the functionconstraint level, at which the data writing is allowed, every functionblock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of a data setting apparatus according to the presentinvention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5Bhereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plant controlsystem to which a data setting apparatus of the present embodiment isapplied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plant control system 100 includes fieldcontrollers 2, 2, . . . for controlling field equipments 1, 1, . . .such as control valves, sensors, and the like arranged in the plant todistribute therein, and an operation monitoring apparatus 3 formonitoring integrally the field equipments 1, 1, . . . via the fieldcontrollers 2, 2, . . . arranged to distribute. As shown in FIG. 1, theoperation monitoring apparatus 3 and the field controllers 2, 2, . . .are connected mutually via a communication bus 5.

The operation monitoring apparatus 3 executes a process control of thefield equipments 1, 1, . . . via the field controllers 2, 2, . . . Also,the field equipment 1 has the data to specify its functions, and theoperation monitoring apparatus 3 can access the data held by the fieldequipment 1 in response to.the operator's operation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the data settingapparatus of the present embodiment.

In FIG. 2, an accepting section 101 accepts an input of the data to beset into the field equipment 1 and an input of the key provided to thatfield equipment 1. A deciding section 102 decides whether or not the keythe input of which is accepted is correct. Provided that the decidingsection 102 decided that the key whose input is accepted is correct, adata setting section 103 sets the data into that field equipment 1. Theaccepting section 101 has a displaying section 104 for displaying aninput screen of the data and the key. In accepting the input of the key,the displaying section 104 executes a display to inform the input dataon the input screen.

Also, the accepting section 101 accepts an input of the data to be setinto the field equipment 1, and an input of information that iscorrelated with the input of that data. An information processingsection 105 processes the information the input of which is accepted tocorrelate with the input of the data. In accepting the input of theinformation, the displaying section 104 executes a display to inform theinput data on the input screen.

The accepting section 101, the deciding section 102, the data settingsection 103, the displaying section 104, and the information processingsection 105 are constructed as a function of the operation monitoringapparatus 3 respectively.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing procedures of a process executed in theplant control system 100 (FIG. 1) in accessing the data that the fieldequipment 1 holds. The process shown in FIG. 3 is executed under controlof the operation monitoring apparatus 3 (FIG. 1).

An instrument view used to input the data into the field equipment 1 isdisplayed on a display device (not shown) of the operation monitoringapparatus 3. FIG. 4 is a view showing a display screen of the instrumentview. The instrument view is a user interface window that is prepared tothe operation monitoring apparatus 3 and is used when the operatoroperates the field equipment 1 in the plant.

In the plant control system 100, in order to facilitate the access tothe field equipment 1, the data such as input output values, etc. to thefield equipment 1 are allocated in advance to the function blocks of thecorresponding field controller 2. Therefore, the access to the fieldequipment 1 is executed via the function blocks of the field controller2 expressed on the instrument view.

In the process shown in FIG. 3, an example in which ON/OFF (1 or 0) ofone data is set into the functional block of the switch-type fieldequipment 1 is illustrated. In this example, the operator when clicks abutton 71 (FIG. 4) on the instrument view can transmit the dataallocated to the button 71 to the corresponding field controller 2. Theprocess shown in FIG. 3 is started when the operator clicks the button71.

In step S1 in FIG. 3, the operator acquires an operator's authoritybased on the operator's ID that is input previously. In the presentembodiment, a function constraint level at which the data writing isallowed is set every function block. The operator compares theoperator's authority with the function constraint level to decidewhether or not the writing of data into the function block is allowed.

FIG. 5A is a view showing a table used to decide whether or not thewriting of data into the function block is allowed, by comparing theoperator's authority and the function constraint level. The functionconstraint level at which the writing of data is allowed is definedevery operator's authority. FIG. 5B shows a table for specifying thefunction constraint level, at which the writing of data is allowed,every function block. These tables are stored in a memory device (notshown) of the operation monitoring apparatus 3, for example.

Then, in step S2, the operator acquires the function constraint level ofthe function block as the object of operation of the button 71 from thetable in FIG. 5B. In FIG. 5B, “TAG001”, “TAG002”, etc. indicate thefunction block respectively. In this example, it is illustrated that thefunction constraint level of the function. block indicated by “TAG001”is “3”.

Then, in step S3, the table in FIG. 5A is looked up. Thus, it isdecided. whether or not the writing of data is allowed, based on theoperator's authority acquired in step S1 and the function constraintlevel of the function block acquired in step S2.

For example, in the case where the operator's authority is “S1” in FIG.5A, the writing of data is allowed when the function-constraint level ofthe function block is “1” whereas the writing of data is rejected whenthe function constraint level is “2” or more. Also, in the case wherethe operator's authority is “S3”, the writing of data is allowed whenthe function constraint level of the function block is “4” or lesswhereas the writing of data is rejected when the function constraintlevel is “5” or more. Therefore, in the case of the writing of data intothe function block indicated by “TAG001”, the writing of data is allowedwhen the operator's authority is “S3” whereas the writing of data isrejected when the operator's authority is “S1”.

If the decision in step S3 is YES, the process goes to step S4. If suchdecision is NO, the process is ended.

If it is decided that the writing of data is allowed, in step S4, aframe of the clicked button 71 is displayed in particular color and alsoa blinking display of the frame is started. According to such process,the operator can recognize easily the button as the object of operation(the button 71 in FIG. 4). This process corresponds to the function ofthe displaying. section 104 (FIG. 2).

Then, in step S5, it is decided whether or not the field equipment 1 asthe object of the data writing corresponds to the equipment thatrequests the input of a password. It is indicated previously in the datathat are held by the corresponding field controller 2 whether or noteach field equipment 1 requests the input of the password. In step S5,the decision is made based on this data. If the decision in step S5 isYES, the process goes to step S6. If such decision is NO, the processskips to step S7.

In step S6, a password input dialog box 72 (FIG. 4) used to input thepassword is displayed on the display device of the operation monitoringapparatus 3 to accept the input of the password. The process in step S6corresponds to the function of the accepting section 101 (FIG. 2)

When the operator inputs the password, a character string is displayedin a display area 73 in the password input dialog box 72 as a row of“*s” to prevent the leakage of the password. At this time, because ablinking display of the frame of the button 71 is still continued, theoperator can recognize easily that the password is being input inresponse to the operation of the button.

In step S6, the password the input of which is accepted functions as thekey that is correlated with the field equipment 1 as the object of thedata writing. The different character strings are correlated withindividual field equipments 1 as the password every operator. Thepasswords that are correlated with the field equipments 1 are stored inrespective field equipments 1 as a table in which correspondencesbetween the operators and the passwords are defined respectively.

Then, in step S7, a reconfirmation dialog box 75 (FIG. 4) is displayedon the display device of the operation monitoring apparatus 3 to acceptthe input of the final operator's decision that indicates whether or notthe writing of data should be executed. The operator when executes thewriting of data clicks an area 76 of the reconfirmation dialog box 75,while the operator when cancels the writing of data clicks an area 77 ofthe reconfirmation dialog box 75. In step S7, the operation applied tothe area 76 or the area 77 is accepted.

Also, an area 78 used to input the reason for change of data is providedto the reconfirmation dialog box 75. The operator inputs the reason forchange of data into the area 78. In step S7, the input reason for changeof data is accepted. This process corresponds to the function of theaccepting section 101 (FIG. 2). At this time, because the blinkingdisplay of the frame of the button 71 is still continued, the operatorcan recognize easily that the operation of the button 71 is beingreconfirmed.

The operator's name is displayed in an area 79 of the reconfirmationdialog box 75. This name is acquired based on the operator's ID that ispreviously input.

In step S7, information showing the area 76 or the area 77 that isclicked by the operator and the input reason for change are acquired.

Then, in step S8, the input password input in step S6 is compared withthe operator's password, which is correlated with the field equipment 1as the object of data setting, to decide whether or not the inputpassword is correct. As described above, the password correlated withthe field equipment 1 is stored in the field equipment 1 as the tablethat defines the correspondences between the operators and respectivepasswords. In step S8 (FIG. 2), it is decided by looking up this tablewhether or not the input password is correct. This process correspondsto the function of the deciding section (FIG. 2).

If this decision is NO, the process skips to step S10. If this decisionis YES, it is decided in step S8 whether or not the writing of datashould be executed, based on the reconfirmation information acquired instep S7. If this decision is YES, the process goes to step S9. If thisdecision is NO, the process skips to step S10.

In step S9, the operator's ID, the input data value (value allocated tothe button 71), the field equipment 1 as the object of data setting(function block), and the input reason for change of data aretransmitted to the field controller 2 (FIG. 1) that corresponds to thefield equipment 1 as the object of data setting. Then, the fieldcontroller 2 holds a communication with the corresponding fieldequipment 1 to set the data into the field equipment 1. This processcorresponds to the function of the data setting section 103 (FIG. 2).

Then, in step S10, the blinking display of the frame of the button 71 isended. Then, the process is ended.

As explained above, in the present embodiment, the password as well asthe data set by the button operation can be input, and then the accessto the data is limited by comparing the input password with the passwordthat is correlated in advance with the field equipment 1. Therefore,like the case where the mechanical locking mechanism is provided to thefield equipment 1, the security management can be attained on afield-equipment basis. If the access limitation cannot be realized on afield-equipment basis, only the access limitation can be applied basedon the operator's authority, as described above. According to the methodexecuted based on the operator's authority, the operator's authority ofthe access is decided. Thus, the authority of the access is decidedone-dimensionally based on the function constraint level irrespective ofthe field equipment 1. Also, the function constraint level gives a roughclassification (for example, 8 levels in the present embodiment), sothat the security management cannot be attained in fact on afield-equipment basis.

However, for example, in the case where a scale of the plant isincreased to some extent, it is not preferable from the perspective ofsecurity management of each field equipment 1 that all the operators areallowed uniformly to access the data of all the field equipments 1 basedon the operator's authority. In the present embodiment, the securitymanagement of individual field equipments 1 can be carried out like themechanical locking mechanism, while permitting the operation monitoringapparatus 3 to access the data.

Also, in the present embodiment, the reason for change of data inaddition to the data being set by the button operation can be input, andthis reason is transmitted to the field controller (step S9 in FIG. 3).Since additional information except the data being set in this mannerare input, such input additional information can be utilizedeffectively.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a history storage device 6 may beprovided to correspond to the field controller 2. Then, the reason forchange of data may be stored in the corresponding history storage device6 in such a manner that the reason is correlated with the operator's ID,the operator indicated by the input password, the value of the inputdata, the field equipment (function block) as the object of datasetting, and the like. The input data and information may be storedtemporarily in the operation monitoring apparatus 3. In this case, thedata and information are deleted automatically in seriatim from earlierinformation, and thus the data and information cannot be saved for along term. For this reason, since such information are accumulated inthe history storage device 6, the record of the access to the data ofthe field equipment 1 can be utilized as an audit trail, and thus theeffective security management of the field equipment 1 can be achieved.

For example, in the food/medicine plant, since the change of dataseriously affects a safety of the final product, it has an importantmeaning to manage the access history to the data of the field equipment1. For example, the history can be managed by accumulating theinformation about the change of data in the field controller 2 as batchdata after the batch of one product is completed. Such processcorresponds to the function of the information processing section 105(FIG. 2).

Also, as the additional information except the set data, a color codevalue of the lamp corresponding to the operator, which is indicated bythe input password, can be transmitted to the field controller 2 or thefield equipment 1. In this case, the operator who is accessing to thedata of the field equipment 1 can be displayed on an instrument panel bylighting the lamp in color indicated by the color code value. Suchprocess corresponds to the function of the information processingsection 105 (FIG. 2).

Application fields of the present invention are not limited to the aboveembodiment. The present invention can be applied widely in the situationthat the field equipments into which the data can be set are arranged.

1. A data setting apparatus for setting data into field equipments, comprising: an accepting section which accepts an input of data to be set into a field equipment and an input of a key correlated with the field equipment; a deciding section which decides whether or not the key accepted by the accepting section is correct; and a data setting section which sets the data accepted by the accepting section into the field equipment if the deciding section decides that the key accepted by the accepting section is correct.
 2. The data setting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accepting section includes a displaying section which displays an input screen of the data and the key, and the displaying section displays to inform the data accepted by the accepting section on the input screen when the key is input through the accepting section.
 3. A data setting apparatus for setting data into field equipments, comprising: an accepting section which accepts an input of data to be set into a field equipment and an input of information correlated with the input of the data; a data setting section which sets the data accepted by the accepting section into the field equipment; and an information processing section which correlates the information accepted by the accepting section with the input of the data.
 4. The data setting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the accepting section includes a displaying section which displays an input screen of the data and the information, and the displaying section displays to inform the data accepted by the accepting section on the input screen when the information is input through the accepting section.
 5. The data setting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information is information correlated with an input person of the data.
 6. The data setting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the information is information correlated with a setting of the data.
 7. The data setting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing section stores the input information to correlate with the input of the data.
 8. A data setting method of setting data into field equipments, comprising the steps of: accepting an input of data to be set into a field equipment and an input of a key correlated with the field equipment; deciding whether or not the input key is correct; and setting the input data into the field equipment if it is decided that the input key is correct.
 9. The data setting method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of: displaying an input screen of the data and the key when the inputs of the data and the key are accepted, and displaying to inform the input data on the input screen when the input of the key is accepted.
 10. A data setting method of setting data into field equipments, comprising the steps of: accepting an input of data to be set into a field equipment and an input of information correlated with the input of the data; setting the input data into the field equipment; and correlating the input information with the input of the data.
 11. The data setting method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: displaying an input screen of the data and the information when the inputs of the data and the information are accepted, and displaying to inform the input data on the input screen when the input of the information is accepted.
 12. The data setting method according to claim 11, wherein the information is information correlated with an input person of the data.
 13. The data setting method according to claim 11, wherein the information is information correlated with a setting of the data.
 14. The data setting method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: storing the input information to correlate with the input of the data. 